Kandinsky said, “Letters act as practical and useful signs, but also as pure form and inner melody.” This quote appears on a Society of Scribes 10th Anniversary Keepsake from 1984, one of the pieces featured in Artist & Alphabet: 20th Century Calligraphy & Letter Art in America.
The exhibition catalog was published in Jaffrey, New Hampshire in 2000 by David R. Godine in conjunction with the American Institute of Graphic Arts and the Society of Scribes and was printed in at The Stinehour Press in Vermont. The exhibit and catalog were curated by Jerry Kelly (who was also the book designer) and Alice Koeth (who provided the title page calligraphy). The catalog includes an introduction from Donald Jackson.
While Artist & Alphabet contains a wide overview of the lettering arts of the 20th century, for this Decorative Sunday I have focused on the specimens that embody that spirit of what Jackson calls “spontaneously made, deeply personal pirouettes of the pen, blots and all.” These works show how letter forms can be utilized not just to convey information, but as a visual grammar in and of itself.
The H50 Big Bang is coming back this year for another round, so we’re calling all writers and artists of the fandom to come sign up. Sign-ups will open May 1st. Keep an eye on this blog for more information to follow.
Last Sunday we brought you a few highly decorative calligraphic designs from the 2000 exhibition catalog Artist & Alphabet: 20th Century Calligraphy & Letter Art in America, published by David R. Godine in conjunction with the American Institute of Graphic Arts and the Society of Scribes and was printed in at The Stinehour Press in Vermont. On this #Typography Tuesday we present some of the more formal letterforms from this same volume.
Gabby and Amy discuss Dirty Dancing, the ultimate coming-of-age movie complete with trenchant class analysis, a convincing argument for women's reproductive freedom, a killer soundtrack, and Patrick Swayze's perfect ass (and chest, and hair and arms, etc.). What more could you want in a movie?
One order of happiness...coming right up! 😉 This is pure joy, isn't it? Hope it gives you a smile, guys! Love you all! 😘 Gene Kelly & Jerry The Mouse, in "Anchors Aweigh" (1945). 🤍
After seeing all these 5x21 pics and gifs now I'm craving a crack AU where governor Sam says: "Daniel. Steven. I need you two to disguise as Elvises. For a case" and "And you, Jerry and Max, will train them".
I wanna see Steve's and Danny's faces. I wanna see them listening to Jerry and Max. I wanna see Tol Elvis & Smol Elvis bickering. I wanna see them being forced (for a case!) to sing ("Love me tender" or "Can't help falling in love", in a duet please). And I wanna Kono and Chin to take some photos 😈